“The friendliest ghost town in Alaska” and Hyder works hard to maintain that reputation. Spectacular scenery (available free to all visitors) as well as great fishing, eagles to watch and bears to photograph. How could you want more? Well, there is more to Hyder; the trip from one end of Main Street to the other can be an adventure in itself.

History
Hyder was originally named Portland City by the unlucky group stranded there by an unscrupulous promoter. He had lured them north with promises of gold and then left them in what was once the most desolate area in Alaska. The name was changed in 1914 to Hyder to honor geologist, F.B. Hyder. Hyder has always had a boom bust economy, and the local residents are philosophical because when it is good, it is very good.

Services
There are a full range of services available in Hyder, with motels, restaurants bars and shops. There is also a post office, library and museum.There is no bank in Hyder.

Camping
Rainey Creek Campground


Things To Do
The Old Stone Storehouse erected by Captain D. Gillard when he explored Portland Canal in 1896. This storehouse is on the National (US) Register of Historic Sites. Thousands of pilings at tidewater in Hyder are reminders of the 1948 fire which destroyed the flourishing town that had been built over the ocean.

Fish Creek Wildlife Viewing Area. End of July to mid-September the creek is filled with salmon, . A viewing platform excellent for bear watching.  

As tourism increases to Alaska and the Yukon, many of the qualities that attracted the original visitors are lost. Stewart BC and Hyder still have all the good things and have not been “commercialized”.